Kerkhof, Dorpsweg 5

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, in Dutch. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

Description

The distinctive church situated on a slightly elevated churchyard, in origin early 13th-century, originally dedicated to Saint Bonifacius (reformed church), of which the tower - which served as a beacon for shipping on the IJsselmeer and the Wadden Sea - was replaced in 1898 and nave and five-sided closed choir in 1916 were provided with an encasement with three-sided closed choir; around the building lies a churchyard in origin presumably also early 13th-century slightly elevated, which is enclosed by a carefully executed, partly renewed, late 19th-century cast-iron railings. In origin early 13th-century Romanesque church building which, after alterations in the 14th and 16th centuries, in 1898 was given a new tower in simple eclectic-neorenaissancist style and in 1916 an equally simple neogothic encasement around nave and choir. The tower, which is constructed of brick enlivened with natural stone decorations, consists of three stages and is crowned by a slate-covered spire with weather vane, which rests on a projecting gallery on carved corbels; simple tower clock with four dial plates set in sunburst-shaped natural stone inlay work; sound holes; above the semicircular closed foundation stone among others the date 1898, names of church wardens, architect (L. Reitsma) and contractor (J. Roosjen from Kornwerd). The nave counting six bays, which is likewise constructed of brick enlivened with stucco decorations, is covered by a roof with machine-made Lucas IJsbrand tiles laid on the choir side as a three-sided closed hipped roof against straight gable at tower side; below the roof edge a semicircular moulded frieze; in the left side gable a later infilled pointed arch portal and five blind pointed arch windows; in the right side gable still accessible pointed arch portal, above which foundation stone with date 1916 and the names of church wardens, architect (F. Haagsma) and contractor (J. Roosjen from Kornwerd); the pointed arch windows have simple early 20th-century coloured leaded glass glazing with floral motifs; of the three pointed arch windows in the choir two are blind; the window at the end is likewise coloured glazed. In addition to remnants of the 13th-century Romanesque predecessor, traces of later 14th- and 16th-century alterations possibly also lie hidden behind this encasement.

The INTERIOR contains the following components of importance: - the early 16th-century oak barrel vault on wooden tie beams with keystones with pear-bead motif; - the blind recesses with neogothic stucco work; - the pulpit with baptism rail (1740); coat of arms panel, balusters and decoration of the canopy of the gentleman's bench (1740); a Ten Commandments board (1740) in frame with angels (1809) and four coat of arms panels (1740); a church wardens' board (1917); the late 19th/early 20th-century furnishings including the doors and cupboard wall with applied panels; the organ set in a carefully carved case with two manuals, made in 1865 by L. van Dam and Sons, on gallery.

As regards the EXTERIOR simple late 19th/early 20th-century, situated on a slightly elevated churchyard in origin presumably also early 13th-century and characterizing the village of Cornwerd, church building of architectural-historical, art-historical and urban design importance due to: - the remains of an early 13th-century Romanesque predecessor with five-sided closed choir and the possible traces of 14th- and 16th-century alterations, which lie hidden behind the encasement of choir and nave from 1916; - various interior components, dating from 17th, 18th, 19th and early 20th century. Bell cote with bell by A. Boister, 1569, diam. 101 cm. Mechanical tower clock Gebr. van Bergen, Midwolda, 1913.

Churchyard in origin presumably also early 13th-century, of importance due to: - the indicated historical connection with the remains of the former Romanesque Bonifacius church; - the carefully designed late 19th-century cast-iron railings; - the urban design importance - together with the church building - for the village of Cornwerd.